As millions of people across the country discover the bountiful benefits of supplementing their diets and self-care routines with hemp seed oil, many people are left wondering “can hemp seed oil help my pets feel their best, too?”. While we recently discussed what hemp seed oil is, it is important to remember that hemp seed oil does not contains any of the  intoxicating chemicals sometimes included in products so if you’re worried about introducing certain chemicals to your pets, there is no need to worry with hemp seed oil! Let’s explore how hemp seed oil can benefit your furry friends.

First and foremost: Can you use hemp seed oil on your pets? The short, tentative answer is “yes”.

In most situations, hemp seed oil is the same as any other dietary supplement of coat treatment for our household pets. As a dietary supplement, hemp seed oil can be incredibly beneficial for pets, especially larger breeds of dogs, for similar reasons to how it benefits humans. The omega-3 fatty acids contained within hemp seed oil can stand to benefit everyone’s diet. The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3s help regulate allergy responses, cardiovascular health, and can help mitigate arthritic pain in pets. Much like humans, dogs and cats cannot produce omega fatty acids themselves, meaning that their diet must contain them in order to sustain a healthy body. 

On top of the effects hemp seed oil has on the internal functions of your pet, hemp seed oil is also astonishingly helpful at treating skin and coat conditions. Giving your pet capsules of hemp seed oil with meals can help the health of your pet’s skin and coat, but so can hemp seed oil-based topical treatments. Whether it be a raw oil or a hemp seed oil-infused lotion, most furry pets can benefit from a regular application of hemp seed oil. When seeking hemp seed oils and lotions for pets, please be sure to only apply to areas where a pet cannot ingest the topical treatment, or that the treatment is safe to be ingested.

While hemp seed oil as a portion of a diet plan for pets can yield healthier bodies for your pets, it is also important to remember that hemp seed oil is still an oil. Overconsumption of fats, no matter how healthy, can lead to health issues in pets just the same as it can in humans. Hemp seed oil is a polyunsaturated fat; chicken is high in polyunsaturated fats already, so introducing hemp seed oil into a chicken-heavy diet may put your pet at risk of a dietary imbalance.

As with all dietary changes, be sure to check with your veterinarian before introducing hemp seed oil into the diet of your pet. Even with good intentions, having an educated opinion before making changes can be critical to the health of your pet.

Looking to diversify your industrial hemp-product offerings? Producing supplements, harnesses, toys, and more for pets can be one of the most lucrative ways to grow your industrial hemp-based business! To learn more about how your friends at the Hemp Farm Collective can help guarantee consistently high-quality hemp to you, learn more here or contact us today!